Backyard shed used as secret meeting by Carlton Crew saved
A secret meeting place dubbed a “war room” and used by the infamous Carlton Crew during the height of Melbourne’s Gangland War has been saved after a bitter fight with a local council.
Police & Courts
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A fibro backyard shed where the infamous Carlton Crew had secret meetings during Melbourne’s gangland war will remain standing – for now.
In a David and Goliath legal battle, Enzo Condello took on Yarra City Council to save what he says was a “war room” used by his slain mafia gangster brother Mario Condello.
The shed – where Condello met his mobster mates including the Moran brothers, Alphonse Gangitano and Graham Kinniburgh in the height of the underworld killings – has been on the Condello family’s Fitzroy North property since the 1960s.
But in May 2017, the council demanded Enzo Condello remove the rear fence and shed, stating it was erected across a council laneway.
“After 60 years, they wanted to take a third of our backyard for a laneway,” Mr Condello said.
“They claimed it had always been council land.”
But Mr Condello dug his heels in, claiming his father, Guerino, told him he paid the former Fitzroy Council for the land before paving and building on the laneway in 1961. He has not been able to find any paper trail of this.
When the playwright remained defiant and refused to meet council demands, he was charged with placing “any other thing” without permit on council land that interfered with its intended use, and restricting the use of any road, footway or council land.
Three years later and in a win for Mr Condello, the charges were yesterday dismissed in Melbourne Magistrates Court after the council failed to attend a scheduled contested hearing.
The court also ordered the council to pay Mr Condello’s $2000 legal bill.
All smiles, Mr Condello couldn’t believe his luck.
“I can’t believe they never turned up,” Mr Condello said.
“They’ve doggedly pursued me for years and have been at all the other hearings including four adjournments – it’s crazy.
“I’m relieved. It’s been three years, most of which has been very stressful.”
Mr Condello was unsure what this now meant for the fate of the shed, which has been turned into a shrine to his late brother.
The council’s corporate, business and finance director Diarmuid McAlary told the Herald Sun the council was “disappointed” it’s solicitor had not shown up.
“The City of Yarra engaged independent legal representation to pursue this matter,” Mr McAlary said.
“We are disappointed that the solicitor representing us failed to appear.
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“As the error was theirs and not council’s, the solicitor will be responsible for Mr Condello’s legal costs.”
Mr McAlary said the council was considering future legal options on the matter.
“It is important to our family. It holds a lot of memories of Mario,” Mr Condello said.
Mario Condello was shot dead in his Brighton East driveway on the eve of his Supreme Court trial for conspiring to kill Carl Williams in 2006.